Cabinet construction



NOV.. 10, 1936. G. FORSTHOEFEL 2,060,756

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 1, .1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 will Nov., 10, 1936. F FORSTHOEFEL 2,060,756

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 1, 195l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Application September 1, 1931, Serial No. 560,563

4 Claims."'"(Gl.-2Z`Q`- 9) My invention relates to cabinet construction, and particularly to the construction of cabinets which are utilized as refrigerators.

Heretofore refrigerator cabinets have usually been built around a wooden or steel framework which was bolted together. The number of assembly parts and the labor of manufacturing and assembling the parts are costly and furthermore the cabinets so constructed are not usuallo 1y extremely strong mechanically.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet of a minimum of parts which may be easily assembled.

It is another object of my invention to provide l a refrigerator cabinet of exceptional mechanical strength throughout.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an eflicient seal between the metal inner lining and the metal outer shell of a refrigerator 50 cabinet.

It is still a further object of the invention to prevent a metal to metal contact between the refrigerator door and the inner lining, but to provide a tight seal therefor.

g5 AIt is another object of my invention to provide an outer metallic shell for a refrigerator fabricated from one piece of material into a three sided shell of substantial height having two parallelsides and a side at right angles thereto.

30 It is another object of my invention to utilize a contiguous ve sided box for a metal inner lining.

It is a further object of my invention to so construct the longitudinal edges of the parallel 35 sides of the outer refrigerator cabinet shell that the assembly of the cabinet will be greatly facilitated.

It is an ancillary object of my invention to provide means whereby a circulation of cool air is ensured in the machine compartment of a mechanical refrigerator.

Other objects and advantages of'my invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein,

45 Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the outer shell, top and dividing members of a refrigerator cabinet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention,

y Fig. 2 is a perspective View, partly in section of a completely assembled refrigerator cabinet,

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the inner lining for my refrigerator cabinet,

Fig. 4 is a back view of my cabinet,

55 Fig. 5 is a sectional YW of the door and Cil cabinet constuction, and of the seal between the door and outer shell, and the inner lining,

Fig. 6 is a front view of the closure for the machine compartment,

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the closure shown in' Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, of the dividing members for the cooling compartment and the machine compartment, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a projecting member which is disposed on the back of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, numeral I designates the outer shell of a refrigerator cabinet which is formed preferably of metal into three main sides. One side 3 is at right angles to the other two sides 5 and 1 which are parallel to each other. L-shaped turns 9 and II are provided on the longitudinal edges of the parallel sides 5 and 1 for reasons explained hereinafter. The lower edge of the shell I is turned inwardly and forms a support I3.

A cross member I5 having an inturned edge I1, and upper and lower plates 2| and I9 respectively are formed preferably of metal. The cross bar is substantially the same length as the distance between the turned portions 9 and II. The plates I9 and 2| are of the same dimensions as the inside of the shell I and are provided with upturned portions 23 and 25 respectively.

A member of relatively rigid heat insulating material 21, preferably of wood, is adapted to be fastened to the under surface of the plate 2|, and is the same length as the plate. Preferably, portions 29 and 3| are cut out of the plate 2| and the member 21, and correspond in size, shape and position for reasons hereinafter explained.

A top 33 preferably of metal and of any desired shape is provided to cover the shell I.

An inner lining 35, preferably of metal welded together to form a five-sided body, is provided. Shelf supports 31 adapted to support shelves 43 are preferably pressed into the lining 35, and a depression 39 is provided around the entire edge of the lining at its opening 4|.

The assembly of the cabinet is accomplished by welding the cross bar I5, with the edge I1 thereon turned inwardly, to the bottom' of the shell I, as shown in Fig. 2, thus bracing the shell I. The lower plate I9 is dropped into place and is supported by the inturned edges I3 of the shell I and the edge I1 of the cross bar I5. The plate I9 is fastened in place preferably by spot welding thev upturned portions 23 on the plate I9 to the walls 3, and 1 of the shell I-. 'I'he upturned flanges 23 may be omitted in which case the edges of the plate I9 are spot welded to the inturned edges I3 of the shell I.

and I0 of the shell I.

The upper plate 2| is placed in position in the shell I as shown in Fig. 2, and the upturned portions 25 are spot Welded to the walls 3, 5, 1, 8 The insulating member 21 is fastened to the plate 2I by screws l5 with the out out portions 29 and 3I of the plate 2l and member 21 coinciding. The cut out portions are preserved and an aperture 28 is cut partly in them and partly in plate 2I and member 21. The member 21 is provided with bolts 32 to support the portion 30 and to receive nuts 34. This allows the mechanical refrigerating unit (not shown) to be placed in the cabinet from the front of the aperture 28, and provides a space for the connection from the compressor to the evaporator (not shown). The insulating member 21 is disposed iiush with the L-shaped turns 9 and II of the shell I in Fig. 2. Two main compartments are thus formed, namely, a cooling compartment 49 and a machine compartment 5I. The arrangement of these compartments is shown by way of example, and I do not intend to be limited thereto.

Heat insulating material 53 is applied to the cooling compartment 49 adjacent to the walls 3, 5 and 1, and the plate I9 as shown in Fig. 2. Heat insulating material 41, as shown in Fig. 8, is applied to the portion. of the under surface of the plate 2I which is not covered by the member 21. Sound deadening material 55 is applied to the walls of the machine compartment 5I and to the top 33.

A portion of a seal 51 between the shell I and the lining 35 is inserted in the cabinet and the inner lining 35 is disposed in the shell I, preferably fitting snugly against the insulation 53. The remaining portion of the seal 51 is disposed on the first portion and fits into the depression 39 in the lining 35, and a strip of molding 59 is attached to the nrst portion.

A closure 63, shown in Figs. 6 and '1, is provided for the front of the machine compartment 5I, and nts snugly between the L-portions 9 and II of the shell I, and is removably attached thereto by any convenient means. The closure 63 is turned inwardly to form an edge 65 which covers and ts under the member 21, and is provided with apertures 61 adapted to receive screws (not shown) which fasten the closure to the member 21. An aperture 64 is provided in the closure 63 for the refrigerator control (not shown).

Hinges (not shown) and a clasp 69 are provided for hanging and closing a door 1I, and are attached to the L-shaped edges 8 and III of the shell I in any well known manner. Legs 13 are fastened to the bottom of the cabinet and the top 33 is disposed on the shell I, thus substantially completing the assembly.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 9, apertures 15 are provided in the upper portion of the shell I, preferably when it is formed, to ensure air circulation in the machine compartment 5I. A projecting member 11 is disposed on the outside of the wall 3 of the cabinet and prevents the cabinet from being pushed tightly against a wall so that air circulation is cut off from the machine compartment 53.

Referring specifically to Fig. 5 for a detailed description of the seal 51 and the construction of the door 1I, a strip of molding 19 is disposed between the insulation 53 and the L-shaped portion II, and is held in place by the L-shaped portion II. A waterproof material 93 is placed under the molding 19 and is held thereby. The inner lining 35 is then placed in the shell I, and another strip of molding 8I, which is preferably beveled is fastened to the first strip 19 by means of the waterproof material 83 which is wrapped around the molding 8|, the depression 39 in the lining 35 providing space for the molding 8I and material 83. A third strip of molding preferably of an impervious molded material is fastened to the other strips by screws 85 and bridges the space between the lining 35 and the shell I. A gasket 81 is attached to the door 1I.

The seal 51, therefore, prevents heat conduction from the cooling chamber 49 to the outer shell I or the outer portions of the door 1I, as there is no metal to metal contact between the various parts. The seal also provides a tight iit between the various members, thus preventing heat leakage to the cooling chamber 59. A further purpose of the seal is to prevent inltration of moisture laden air into the insulation 53 with resulting condensation therein.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will also be seen that I have provided a refrigerator cabinet of a minimum number of assembly parts which is mechanically strong. I have furthermore provided an elcient seal for the cooling compartment, and have ensured good air circulation for the machine compartment.

Although I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A refrigerator cabinet construction including a substantially three-sided outer shell, a pair of substantially at plates, means for fastening one of said plates at one of the longitudinal extremities of said shell, means for fastening the other plate intermediately of the longitudinal eX- tremities of said shell, whereby two compartments are formed, said intermediate plate including main and detachable portions complementally providing an aperture, and a rigid insulating member attached to and at least partially covering a surface of said intermediate plate, said insulating member including main and detachable portions complementally providing an aperture aligned with said rst aperture.

2. A refrigerator cabinet construction including a substantially three-sided outer shell, a pair of substantially at plates, means for fastening one of said plates at one of the longitudinal extremities of said shell, means for fastening the other plate intermediately of the .longitudinal extremities of said shell, whereby two compartments are formed, said intermediate plate including main and detachable portions complementally providing an aperture, and a rigid insulating member attached to and at least partially covering a. surface ot said intermediate plate, said insulating member including main and detachable portions complementally providing an aperture aligned with said ilrst aperture.

3. In a, refrigerator cabinet, the combination of a three-sided outer shell, substantially L- shaped portions turned on the longitudinal edges of the shell, a cross bar disposed at the bottom of the shell between the turned portions thereof, a horizontal plate welded to the bottom of the shell, a second horizontal plate welded to the shell near the top thereof, said shell and horizontal plates forming a compartment with five insulating material fastened to the underside of said upper plate, said upper plate and block being provided with coinciding apertures and detachable portions, an insulating material disposed on the remaining under surface of said upper plate not covered by said rigid block, an insulating material disposed adjacent to the remaining walls front wall panels' extending between the front of the five-sided compartment, a molding strip disposed between said insulation and the L- shaped portions of said shell, a ve-sided inner liner having an opening therein disposed in spaced relation to said first ve-sided compartment by said insulation with the openings to the shell and inner liner coinciding, a second strip of molding disposed between the open edges of said liner and said first molding strip, and a. breaker strip fastened to both of said molding strips andv overlapping said five-Sided shell including said cross-bar and said tive-sided liner at their edges.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination lof an outer casing comprising a back and two adjacent side walls and front wall vertical marginal portions formed of a single blank, intermediate top and bottom walls secured to said back and sidewalls, whereby a five-sided com-w partment and a four-sided compartment are formed, aremovable cover for the four-sided compartment, heat-insulating material disposed on the inner side of said walls, upper and lower the open side registering with the door opening in the outer casing, and breaker strips extending between the edges of the door opening and the edges of the open side of the liner.

GREGG F. FORSTHOEFEL. 

